Lou Gehrig underrated?
 

I’m trying to determine which Lou to chase and it made me wonder why there isn’t much talk of him on the board or in BST. Growing up, I always thought he was one of the faces of “old time baseball”. Wondering if anyone else thought the same and why.

Of course since I’m on the prowl for a Lou let’s hear your favorites!

My Favorite is the 1934 Goudey #61. Also McFarlane did a great job on those figures of him some years ago.

I believe the answer, as determined by others, is lack of stock. He just didn't appear on very much compared to Ruth, Cobb, and others.

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Gehrig is one of the 10 best baseball players of all time. No argument. And many board members, myself included, collect his cards and other stuff. Gehrig wasn't a big larger than life bombastic blowhard like, well, Ruth. He was Larry Bird, not Mr. Jordan. Pete Sampras to John McEnroe. For those of us who love Gehrig it was his quiet class and low key demeanor in the face of horrible tragedy that catapults him to the front of the line of baseball iconography. But to some collectors nearly a century later that might not translate into the same rarefied air as, say Eddie Plank. I joke .....
There are many Gehrig collectors on the board.

If you can ever afford it, get a Gehrig DeLong. Now that's card. . . .

I like one that shows the man's personality

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20portrait.jpg

And as long as we are talking Lou Gehrig:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...d%20Gehrig.jpg

Lou Gehrig underrated?
 

My first born is named Henry for his first name and Louis for his middle name. I was able to pick this up when it was a lot cheaper about 7 years ago. It pairs nicely with the 33 Gehrig my wife got me.

Gehrig to me was a tragic hero. He had all the gifts, but was humble throughout and unfortunately flared out way too early in life. Some people are too good for the world and have to leave a bit earlier than others. We could learn a lot from him today - humble, work ethic, positive demeanor, was not cowed by the spotlight of another.

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Here is Conlon’s original type 1 photo used for great exhibit card that Adam posted.

...and here is the Delong.

Wow - what a photo!

I don't think there is a more well-known and recognized historical first baseman, so he's not underrated as a player. I think he gets less hobby love because he appears in few popular mainstream sets, his rookie is an Exhibit issued over several years in an odd size, and if you are going for one player from his era, 99% will choose Ruth, who deserves greater rating than Gehrig any way you look at the numbers.

Gehrig>Ruth.
His stoic working man values have always appealed to me more than the Ruth lifestyle. My first pre war card as a kid was a 33 Goudey Gehrig #92, I still have that card today, I only wish I would have realized how special the 34 Goudey #37 card is and picked one up before the cost exceeded that of selling a kidney on the human organ black market.

Gehrig's relationship with Ruth couldn't have been easy.

Here's Lou in a (barely) post-war card.

That's an interesting take. For myself and I'm guessing others, Ruth is so much more enamored because not only was he a better ball player than Gehrig, he had, well... a seemingly much better personality. Gehrig from what I know, while congenial and a decent man.... was also boring.

Ruth's "lifestyle" and child-like demeanor is what attracts people. He's the prototypical example of a normal and regular human being with faults that was able to achieve greatness.... a perfect example of traditional American exceptionalism.

.... as Mr. Joel once stated... I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints...
The sinners are much more fun.

Some Gehrigs that don't show up everyday.

Many of the same things could be said about another 1930's all-time great first sacker, Jimmie Foxx. Hank Greenberg was up there in that same vicinity as well. Quite an era for first basemen in American League history.

Gehrig Suffers from a few things. One being overshadowed by the Babe, Two not having many issues and three, tragically coming down with ALS and having his career derailed. It's consensus that he's the greatest 1st baseman ever. The ALS started affecting him around 1935, when he was still a relatively young 35 years old. Had this not been the case, his counting numbers would have been more impressive. 600 Home Runs and 3000 Hits most likely.

His cards are great, I eventually want to own a few of his issues, they're just unfortunately very pricey. Hopefully one day.

If I had the money to collect these three I would. 1930s were a great time!

I always enjoy seeing your boxing items. Great collection piece.

There a good handful of photos with Gehrig bouncing some baby or little kid on his lap. Always strike me as so sad, as one more thing Lou and his wife didn't get to experience. He always has a huge grin on in the photos I've seen of him with kids.

Plenty of great Lou Gehrig cards, but this one in my opinion is not one of them...for some reason Lou's goofy grin in this image has contorted his face into a grotesque mask, and the card kinda scares the bejeebers out of me.

Brian (not my W590 card, thankfully)

Ha. I love this card but agree something is off. His ears are too pointy. A littler weird. I have what I think is the original photo used for this card. Will post it.

Here's the original photo.

Steve- Great photo. Here's a photo that I picked up from a board member. I love it.

That's real nice.

Stop scaring me Steve! Actually, the original is not quite as bad (and I can look at without running to hide under the bed).

Brian

Mine;)


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Does look a little flying money-ish, Wizard of Oz, no?

Another avid Gehrig collector here

Here's what a 1926-29 Exhibits Gehrig would look like in nicely trimmed silhouette form.

Brian

That one cracks me up every time, Brian. I used to have a Darby Chocolates card cut like that (Chief Meyers).

Those are really nice, Gary. I think I might've owned the one with the pinhole in it...soooo tough in any condition.

I personally like the 34 Goudey yellow the best but still need one myself.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4e075e794e.jpg

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Here are two fun ones:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20Gehrig_1.jpg

1964 Penafiel. A Mexican soda set. Really rare and usually found thrashed from album removal.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...e%20Gehrig.jpg

Coney Island Arcade. Made for the arcade in the 1950s-early 1970s for use in old card machines, probably Mutoscopes based on the size. I've only seen two of them, this one and a blue tint version on page 43 of the book Cowboy Hero Arcade Cards.

During one of those mid-twenties seasons, Gehrig produced 302 runs in 155 games, using the formula of total runs + rbi - home runs. That's nearly two runs per game! Nobody else has even come close to that production over the course of a single season - not even Ruth.

Define Close.

Hack Wilson - 1930: 281
Hank Greenberg -1937: 281

Best two seasons besides Gehrig I could think of, both roughly 7% lower.

It makes me smile too. The cutter did such a nice job on Lou. In the same group that I picked up Lou I also had Cobb and Ruth Exhibits that were cut similarly, but I liked the Gehrig pose the most, so I let go Ty and Babe.

Brian

I've told you before, but I like how that Wheaties looks in that frame. It makes it look extra special. I need to pick up that fielding pose to go along with the batting pose.

A member on this site has a Wheaties single serving of Gehrig. That was a cool card. It is post #16 in the thread below:
https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...light=wheaties

This is from the 1955 Standard School of Broadcast book of Famous Americans.

How can you not love Gehrig in any color.

I agree that Lou is underrated as far as prewar stars go. I have three of his cards, the '34 #37 being one of my favorite cards all time.

'Larrupin' Lou Gehrig. I don't even think that it is a word. I have never heard the word "Larrupin" in any other context. Sort of like "unmitigated gall".

I picked up this binder beauty recently to go with my 2 34 goudeys.

Wow, that's a first for mine.
Posting a card and belittling it in a tribute thread.

It's actually my favourite, and I own one.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...W590Gehrig.jpg

Your card doesn't have such dark areas around the eyes and mouth as seen in the one I found on the internet, and without this darkness the card appears much more attractive to my eyes.

You can now say I have belarged this card. I belarged Lou's 1926-29 Exhibits in another post, even if the example I own is die cut.

Brian (belarged...look it up in the dictionary. It doesn't exist)

No need to backtrack, got no problem with you not being an admirer of the card....just seemed really odd to me in a thread created to pay homage to Lou you took time out to find a card you didn't like and make such a significant post about it.

No biggie. (yup, can be found in the dictionary)

I am not ashamed to backtrack when it makes sense, because that is a good way to know where I have traveled. If I were to ever to pick up this card, I would definitely look for one that appears like yours, because the one I posted is positively hideous.

Brian

My others.

Sweet Lou
 

I'm a sucker for supplements and this one is pretty rare. I don't know much about the 1933-34 Blum's Bulletin supplements but for the price, even though it's kind of beat, I jumped. I also got the Delong earlier this month...

I have a few examples. It wouldn't surprise me to see a big jump in Gehrig cards. He and Jackie transcend the hobby.

https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...ictureid=22531

https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...ictureid=10104https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...ictureid=26964

That's amazing! Beautiful!

...

Great stuff so far! I love seeing all of the variations and unusual issues.

Gehrig's "other" rookie. Card is mine. 1923 photo is not.

After considering people talk about the '34 Goudey cards, I think I like #61 more than #37.

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Here are a few of mine
 

Favorite player, favorite team.

I like that Rogers Peet!

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I agree that Gehrig transcends. My wife isn't very supportive of my habit. But last year when I bought my first Gehrig card, instead of stabbing me in her imagination, she thought for a moment and said, "I don't want to encourage you, but I like Lou Gehrig."

She saw PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, and she knows all about Gehrig.

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I really like the Gehrig exhibits cards. I think they, as well as the Jimmie Foxx are underrated. Here's a couple of my Gehrig exhibits.

His cards (and premiums :)) are gaining more popularity every day..

I've been reading "Cobb Would Have Caught It" and there's an interview in there from Doc Cramer given in 1986.

He said, "Nobody liked Gehrig, not even his own players. I know that to be a fact. Tony Lazzeri, he couldn't stand to be near him. He was too cheap, that's what it was. And he was self-centered. I always got along with him. He'd have a beer and drink with you, if you bought it. The only guy that got along with him was Bill Dickey. They roomed together.

Great exhibits Paul and That should say swag on Leon’s premium

Exhibits are beautiful cards. And I feel Foxx as a whole, is pretty underrated to collect. His stuff is pretty cheap in comparison to the other sluggers of his day.

Lou Gehrig and Teddy Ballgame IMO. If Williams played today he hit .400

Gehrig is actually the whole reason I got back into cards. When Covid hit, I was in the middle of my 356th game of MLB the Show 2020 and Gehrig was my star 1st baseman.

I went to eBay to see if there were even Gehrig cards available. I saw how expensive they were and bought three Mattingly rookies instead.

Not one to give up though, I sold three watches and bought this Gehrig card. I probably (most definitely) overpaid for it not knowing what I was buying, but I smile EVERY time I look at this card, so in the end it was worth every penny.

Fantastic player, but a more remarkable man.
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Whatever makes you happy! I see the Tris Speaker behind Gehrig. I prefer Speaker over Lou. That is a card on my want list.

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Wow, great eyes! Yep, I bought a few low grade T201 cards to get my other favorite players. The display on my desk is T201 Speaker, Lajoie and the Gehrig.

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I recently saw this listing on ebay which was sold (not mine): Link, and had the W590 photo of Gehrig. I thought it was pretty neat.

I had a '34 Goudey #61 years ago that I wish I'd kept. Great colors and great pose. And I also believe that Gehrig transcends the hobby and will continue to rise with Jackie, Clemente, and a handful of others after Mantle and Ruth level off.

I recently got this card, as it was a true case of "buy the card and not the holder". Just a great looking card that the creases don't detract from too much.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f916c0a9_z.jpg

wow, that is a beautiful card!

This is a few months old thread but thought I would revive it after reading "Luckiest Man" by Jonathan Eig. Great well-written book I thought. Also, just over a week away for the 1st Lou Gehrig Day on June 2nd.

Shameless plug, but.........
 

I'd like this to go to a Lou Gehrig fan if they want to add it to their collection and figured this thread is where a Gehrig fan would be. Now mind you obviously the one played in Yankee Stadium that day tends to fetch slightly more then this

https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball/1...umbnail-071515


gulp..........but......it's still pretty cool that it's the same date in history in one of baseball's other hallowed grounds. And unless you have $40 grand to spend on the other one this is a very cool alternative/placeholder : ) and a Cub hit 3 HR's in a game vs the Cardinals that day, so not a bad stub on game alone. But that infamous date, that's the thing! Every true baseball fan knows it. If you are talking to someone and ask them that question and they don't know it, just shake your head and walk away. They're no fan of the game. Not a die-hard anyway.

$115 bucks shipped.....hey, beats 40K

PSA has only 3 tickets graded from that famous date, 2 Yankees, obviously the big guys, and 1 Athletics DH vs Boston, this Wrigley Field one would be the 4th if you were to so choose to do, or don't, doesn't need it.

If interested just message me - no need to keep the thread going with a reply - just pm me if you want to add it to your Lou Collection - cool sidepiece.

My only Lou

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Nice card! Here's my only Lou, a #160 SGC 1.5

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c773b4ec_z.jpg

My personal favorite card of Lou is the 1936 WWG, his last as a player. To me, his somewhat bittersweet expression reflects the knowledge that he is experiencing the first effects of the disease that would kill him.

He does have a bit of a resigned look on the card. And I like it too.

What I wouldn't give for there to have been a 1939 Play Ball Gehrig.

I'm surprised few have responded to the original question. I believe Jimmie Foxx is far more underrated than Lou Gehrig. Just look at the difference between their stats, and compare it to the difference between their card prices. I'm not saying Foxx was better, but he was way closer than the current card prices indicate. To a lesser degree, the same could be said about Hank Greenberg. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I would say Bill Terry and George Sisler — first basemen who were contemporaries of Gehrig — are vastly overrated.

Here are my only Gehrig cards, one of which is technically 1/4 of a card, but I like it anyway ...

man, wish i didnt sell ALL back in 2013...game is way too expensive now to recoup it all...love gehrig....would easily be the all time r.b.i. leader if he could have played until 39,40...

Delete

When I was a kid, this card came out & it stated he was the greatest 1st baseman
Almost 50 years later, I still believe it

https://qualitycards.com/pictures/30693134.jpg